Oakland Post, December 22 - 28, 2021

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State Education Chief Thurmond Weighs Successes, Setbacks

Rev. Amos Brown Brings Wisdom, Guidance to Cal’s

Reparations Task Forc Page 5

Christmas During Slave-Era: A Respite From Bondage or Continued Harsh Reality...P2

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Malia Cohen Re-Elected Chairwoman of State’s Board of Equalization

Oakland Post

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“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18

postnewsgroup.com

Weekly Edition: Dec. 22-28, 2021

58th Year, No. 27

Final Environmental Impact Report Released for Possible New A’s Stadium Ballpark Draft report was not changed to address community concerns; short timeline allows for minimal public input

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Tests Positive for COVID-19 By Post Staff

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) has tested positive for COVID-19 this week. The Congresswoman has been fully vaccinated and boosted, and said in a tweet on Tuesday, “Fortunately, I have only mild cold-like symptoms, but I know it could have been much worse had I not been vaccinated and boosted.” She lauded the vaccines, encouraging people to get both vaccinated and boosted, and to follow health protocols to keep families and communities safe this holiday season. “Please stay masked and follow all of the CDC’s health guidelines as you gather with loved ones this holiday. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.” The announcement comes just two days after Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker tested positive for the virus. Both Warren and Booker were also fully vaccinated and boosted, and both reported their symptoms were also mild. They both called upon the public to get vaccinated. All three senators’ experiences seem to back President Biden’s argument Tuesday that vaccination Continued on Page 8

Oakland officials have released a final environmental impact report for the A’s proposed new stadium and development at Howard Terminal, a process with a short timeline over the holidays allowing only for minimal public comment. The report is required by the California Environmental Quality Act and analyzes potential effects of the project on the surrounding environment. The timing of the release of the port was of concern to many. It was released on Friday, a week before Christmas, and goes to the Planning Commission mid-January, a small window of time during a busy time of year for the public to read and comment on the report. Further, the final report does not include any significant changes to the draft version, which means it was not amended to consider more than 400 comments made on the draft version. However, city staff

Margaret Dixon, Oakland PAL Founder - (31st Annual Oakland PAL Christmas Dinner).

Police Activities League Served Christmas Dinners Kids treated to Shopping Spree at Shoe Palace By Post Staff

Rendering of proposed A’s stadium at Howard Terminal. Image courtesy of UC Berkeley.

did respond to each comment. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, a strong supporter of Oakland A’s owner John Fisher’s stadium deal, was enthusiastic about the report. “Releasing the final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) is a major milestone on our path to build a new waterfront ballpark district that will create up to 18 acres of beauti-

ful public parks, more affordable housing, and good jobs for Oaklanders,” Mayor Schaaf said in a statement. “The 3,500page document is thorough and exhaustive, and it ensures that the project is environmentally safe and sustainable,” Schaaf said. The mayor said the report’s Continued on Page 8

Assemblymember Mia Bonta Says No to Closing Schools, No to Cutting School Resources By Mia Bonta

Editor’s note: Education advocates, parents, and elected officials held a press conference last Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Oakland school district headquarters,1000 Broadway, to oppose what they view as a hostile takeover of Oakland’s public schools by the Alameda County Office of Education and the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT), representing the state. The following is Assemblymember Mia Bonta’s statement at the press conference. I am proud to represent the children, the educators, the parents, the people of Oakland in this moment. I am here today to stand in solidarity with Oak-

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Several of the speakers at the press conference to oppose takeover of Oakland schools, Thursday,Dec. 16, were (front row, L to R): Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Dr. Kimberly Mayfield of Holy Names University, and Keith Brown, president of the Oakland Education Association. (Back row, L to R): community activist John Jones III and Donneva Reid, VP of SEIU classified workers. Photo by Ken Epstein.

Visiting Atlanta’s Black Historical Places

Mr. Moore of the APEX Museum gifted me several books on the iconic Rep. John Lewis; historic Sweet Auburn Avenue; and a book Mr. Dan Moore, Sr., President and Found- “Why We Must Vote” about fighting to keep er of the APEX Museum on Auburn Av- our democracy alive. The latter was my Inside of the Madame CJ Walker Salon. It enue with Navdeep Jassal outside of the whole reason for going to Atlanta for these was not long ago when there were signs museum entrance. two months. clearly posted for where “colored women” By Navdeep K. Jassal I was excited to walk down the avenue of could have their hair washed and “did.” Post News Group Ambassador Civil Rights giants known today as the Big Six: This really made me think about how I Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer, John would respond to being told where I can When I landed in Atlanta my first stop Lewis, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and and cannot go to have a drink of water or sit on a bus or go to school or eat at a lunch was (Sweet) Auburn Avenue. Whitney Young. I boarded the MARTA train to Peachtree My first stop was at the African American counter. I will never understand why this country chose to hate and discriminate Center Station and walked down to Auburn Continued on Page 8 based on skin color alone. Avenue.

On Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 Oakland Police Activities League (OPAL) hosted its 31st annual Christmas Dinner for the Oakland community. The event was hosted and led by former Oakland Police Officer, President of OPAL, and West Oakland native Margaret Dixon. The event brought together hundreds of families throughout Oakland for a turkey dinner served by Oakland and BART police officers, city officials, and community volunteers among others. In addition to the OPAL Annual Christmas Dinner started by Dixon, OPAL recently (Dec. 10, 2021) hosted their 2nd annual shoe shopping spree this holiday season where

30 kids from the community were treated to a shopping spree at the local Shoe Palace shoe store. Dixon has parlayed her love for kids, teaching, and police work into serving the residents and youth of her native Oakland community for well over 30 years. Dixon is the first and only woman to be named Oakland Police Department Officer of the Year. In attendance at the dinner were AASEG Co-Founder Karim Muhammad, AASEG member Jonathan Jones, among others. Oakland PAL is a nonprofit providing positive and safe experiences with after-school activities and sports opportunities for the youth and young adults in the city of Oakland.

Left to Right: BART Chief of Police - Ed Alvarez, Jonathan “Fitness” Jones, BART Deputy Chief of Police - Kevin Franklin, Retired Oakland Police CSI Michele Silvia, BART Police Lieutenant Jason Scott, Karim Muhammad)

Christmas at Chase

Latanya Millican, Branch Manager, Vice President, Chase, 30th and Broadway, Oakland, CA. and Conway Jones, Post News Group, celebrate an early Christmas by sharing the current Oakland Post which featured CEO Jamie Diamon at the branch opening last week. This Chase branch celebrates Oakland artists with multiple art pieces displayed in the lobby. This branch will kick-off a financial literacy program in the new year. Photo courtesy of Chase.


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Oakland Post, December 22 - 28, 2021 by postnewsgroup - Issuu